Linemen&#39;s climber



8, 1957 B. L. BESSINGER 2,808,974

LINEMENS CLIMBER Filed De c. 27. 1954 Fig.

Brady L. Bess/'nger INVENTOR.

Q 7; BY Mm (wig mu 29% United Sttes The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in linemens climbers and has for its primary obect to provide, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, an attachment comprising novel means for preventing the lineman from slipping or sliding down and burning the pole in the event of failure of the usual spur.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously swung to operative or inoperative position when desired.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the character described which may be readily mounted for use on a conventional climber without the necessity for making material structural alterations therein.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a safety device for climbers which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figiue 1 is a view in front elevation of a linemens climber provided with a safety device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the upper portion of the climber, showing the safety device in lowered or inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4; and

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the upper portion of the climber, showing the safety device in raised or operative position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates generally a linemans climber comprising the usual vertical leg bar 6 of suitable metal. At its lower end, the bar 6 terminates in a laterally and upwardly bent foot stirrup 7 having fixed on its free or outer end portion the strap loop 8. .A similar loop 9 is provided on the upper end portion of the bar 6. Projecting from the lower portion of the bar 6 is the usual spur 10.

Mounted on an upper intermediate portion of the bar 6 is a metallic bracket 11. The bracket 11 includes an elongated plate 12 having its end portions apertured, as at 13, to accommodate bolts 14 for securing said plate on the bar 6. Projecting from the upper portion of the plate 12 are spaced, opposed side flanges 15.

Mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the bracket 11 is a substantially triangular metallic plate 16. The plate 16 comprises an integral tongue 17 which, adjacent its free end, is journaled on a pivot pin 18 which extends between the flanges 15 of the bracket 11, said tongue having an end portion extending beyond the said pin. Mounted on the end portions of the swinging plate 16 is a pair of spurs 19.

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A leaf spring 20 has its lower end portion secured to the corresponding portion of the plate 12 by the lowermost bolt 14. The upper end portion of the spring 20 is free and engaged with the pivoted and extending end portions of the tongue 17 for yieldingly securing the plate 16 in operative or inoperative position. A stop pin 21 extends between the lower portions of the flanges 15 for engagement by the tongue 17 for limiting the downward swinging movement of the plate 16. An adjusting screw 22 is threadedly mounted in the plate 16 and engageable with the bar 6 when said plate is in raised or operative position.

It is thought that the operation or use of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the safety device is to be used, the plate 16 is swung upwardly to raised or operative position where it is yieldingly retained by the spring 20 in an obvious manner. Through the medium of the screw 22, which abuts the bar 6, the operative position of the device may be conveniently adjusted as desired for bowlegged linemen. Should the usual spur 10 fail to hold, the spurs 19 may be instantly and almost automatically embedded in the pole for preventing the lineman from sliding down said pole. When the spurs are not to be used, the plate 16 is swung downwardly to inoperative position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing where it is arrested by the pin 21 for preventing said spurs from injuring the linemans leg. The spring 20 also secures the plate 16 in lowered or inoperative position.

It is believed that the many advantages of a linemens climber embodying the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of the construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A linemens climber comprising a vertical leg bar, a plate mounted for vertical swinging movement to operative or inoperative position on an upper intermediate portion of said bar on the outer side thereof, spurs mounted on said plate, a screw threadedly mounted on the plate and engageable with the bar for adjusting the operative position of said plate, and means for yieldingly securing the plate in operative or inoperative position, said plate including an integral tongue pivotally secured adjacent its free end to the bar and including an end portion extending beyond the pivot, said means including a spring mounted on the bar and comprising a free end portion engaged with the pivoted and extending end portions of said tongue.

2. A linemens climber comprising a vertical leg bar, a bracket mounted on an upper intermediate portion of said bar on the outer side thereof, said bracket including a pair of spaced opposed flanges, a pin extending between said flanges, a plate swingable in a vertical plane to operative and inoperative position on the bracket, said plate including an integral tongue journaled, adjacent its free end, on the pin and including an end portion extending therebeyond, spurs mounted on the plate, and a spring on the bracket engaged with the pivoted and extending end portions of the tongue for yieldingly securing the plate in operative or inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

